Ford announced today that their new AppLink is now ready to go to market and available to upgrade for the Ford SYNC. It feels like quite a turnaround for me that Ford have gone from being the archaic GM brand, to something more modern and although this has been reflected in their advertising and “Kinetic” campaigns, I think this is the real highlight of their future-facing strategy.
The Applink will enable Ford drivers to control Android or iPhone apps within their Ford, meaning effectively you could use apps such as Layar (a new favourite of mine) to give you an almost “heads up” experience. (Although as my RAF Fighter Pilot sister says – Heads Up – is pretty old school now in the fighter industry).
It wasn’t initially clear to me how this would work with your phone – do I need my phone plugged in? is it hands free? etc. However, I now feel that its clearer having watched the below video of how Pandora would work with Sync. Embedded from YouTube.
At the moment the only apps supported by the AppLink are Pandora, Stitcher and OpenBeak. However, I think the two that apps could work really well within the car environment are:
- Layar – drive to the nearest restaurant and see it approaching in your HeadsUp Display in the window, thus making your real world seem virtual or is it virtual world seem real?
- Google Maps – A heads up display of a free Google Maps journey planner would be excellent as a built in app technology. No more expense of £100+ for a TomTom, you could simply plug your journey into Google Maps and it will give you a voice activated read out.
